Miniature rose plant, named Grace Seward

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant, named `Grace Seward`, which is characterized by white blooms with only five petals. Blooms of this rose are usually borne one to a stem but on occasion may be produced in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. the bush is vigorous, well-branched and produces moderate to heavy quantity of blooms.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a hardy,dwarf, bush plant of the miniature class; the variety being primarilycharacterized as white.

The variety is further characterized by:

Long stemmed blooms with five petals only, borne usually one to a stembut on occasion in sprays of 3 to 5 or more. The blooms are held veryerect and well above the foliage.

The plant ranges in height from 24 to 36 inches (60 to 75 cm). The canesare sturdy and erect with moderate branching and medium to heavy foliagecovering. The plant is a moderate to heavy bloomer that does well eitherin the greenhouse or outdoors.

The plant has good growth habits, well-shaped and attractive, bearingnumerous leaflets of average size. Asexual reproduction of the newvariety by cuttings derived from the plant stem, as performed at ChulaVista, Calif., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctionscome true to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The seed parent was Watercolor (U.S. plant Pat. No. 4,031), and thepollen parent was a pink miniature seedling whose parentage is unknown.It differs from its seed parent in the following ways. It is a miniaturewhite rose with only five petals, and watercolor is a medium pinkminiature rose with hybrid tea form. It differs from its pollen parentin the following ways. It produces white flowers, and the seedlingpollen parent produced pink blooms.

The single color photographic view shows, in plan view, a bouquet of`Grace Seward` in open bloom stage.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown and colorvalues observed in plants and newly opened blooms in the months of Marchthrough November 1991. The plants were grown outdoors in Chula Vista,Calif., and are believed to be accurate standards for this cultivar insimilar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant named `Grace Seward`, the following is a detailed descriptionthereof in outline; all major color plate identifications being byreference to The British Colour Council Horticultural Chart, exceptwhere common terms of color definition are employed.

Type: Hardy, dwarf, bushy, greenhouse or outdoor, exhibition or gardendecorative potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Grace Seward.

Flowers borne: Usually one to a stem, but occasionally in sprays of 3 to5 or more on erect stems with foliage well below the blooms.

Quantity of bloom: Moderate to heavy both outdoors or greenhouse grown.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Average length (30 to 50 mm); average diameter and sturdy;ranging from near Scheeles Green (860/3 to 860/1 page 176) withoccasional tinting of bronze.

Hairs.--Extremely small and sparse with a reddish color; located overthe surface of the peduncle and calyx tube.

Calyx.--Color range same as peduncle.

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Average for a miniature variety (40 to 50 mm).

Petalage.--Single -- 5 petals, arranged regularly, with an occasional 1or 2 petaloids.

Form.--Tall slender bud will open to a slightly cupped open bloom.

Petals: Fairly thick with good substance; both the upper and undersurfaces of all petals have a matte finish.

Shape.--All petals are of a broad obovate form. The petaloids areirregular but basically lanceolate.

Color: Newly opened flowers from plants grown outdoors (March throughNovember of 1991), Chula Vista, Calif.

All petals.--All surfaces -- White.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- White.

Flower longevity.--March through November 1991). Plant in pot 1 to 2days from bud with sepals reflexed to fully open bloom. Holding at fullyopened for 4 to 6 days longer. Cut bloom at living room temperature 3 to4 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--A generous amount arranged uniformly around the pistil.

Filaments.--Varying in length with shorter filaments more proximal tothe pistil; pale yellow in color with anthers of golden yellow.

Pollen.--Abundant.

Pistil.--Short, spreading and abundant; pale Yellow to reddish at thecap.

Ovaries.--All encased in calyx.

Hips.--Some.

Seeds.--3 to 5 or more in each hip.

Foliage:

Sepals.--Permanent; spear-shaped; simple and glabrous open as the bloomopens, recurving against the peduncle, when the bloom is fully opened.

Leaves.--5 to 7 leaflets on average; medium size for a miniature roseplant.

Leaflets.--Broad ovate-shaped.

Margins.--Very serrated with tinting of bronze, especially noticeable onthe newer foliage.

Color.--Ranging from near Spinach Green (0960/3 to 0960 page 187) tonear Scheeles Green (860/1 to 860 page 175) with occasional bronzing ofthe margins, especially on the newer foliage. Upper surfaces have asemi-glossy finish, and the under surfaces have a matte finish of aslightly lighter shade than the upper surfaces.

Rachis.--Medium strength; upper surface is grooved with very small hairsover the length of it. Under surface has few if any hairs but doescontain 2 to 5 small thorns.

Stipules.--Varying in length from small to medium; average width;tapering auricles angled cutward at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf, bush; above average for a miniature rose plant.

Growth.--Vigorous and well-branched.

Canes.--Medium diameter; sturdy; held erect.

Main stems.--Color range same as foliage.

Thorns.--Averaging less than 5 to 10 per 10 on the main stems andbranches. Reddish in color; average size; slender and hooked slightlydownward.

Branches.--Color range same as foliage.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown in Chula Vista, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, named `Grace Seward`, of hardy, dwarf, vigorous growth,well-branched and attractive in appearance, substantially as illustratedand described, characterized by its five-petaled blooms of white withflowers usually borne one to a stem but occasionally in sprays of 3 to 5or more.